Slav DefenseD17

Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5

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Every move explained, never a dead end.

Both sides plans

White's plan

Occupy the center, develop quickly, castle, then pick a wing.

Black's plan

Contest the center before White occupies all of it.

The line, move by move

1. d4d4 occupies the center.
... d5d5 occupies the center.
2. c4c4 strikes at the center.
... c6c6 controls d5.
3. Nf3Nf3 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
... Nf6Nf6 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
4. Nc3Nc3 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
... dxc4dxc4 captures a pawn, gains space.
5. a4a4 repositions the pawn.
... Bf5Bf5 develops the bishop and controls e4.
6. Ne5Ne5 repositions the knight.
... Nbd7Nbd7 develops the knight and controls e5.
7. Nxc4Nxc4 captures a pawn.
... Qc7Qc7 controls e5.
8. g3g3 repositions the pawn.
... e5e5 strikes at the center.

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Other major variations

The complete Slav Defense guide See all 52 variations in the branch map

Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation (D17) · Slav Defense · OpeningMate